How to Cook Perfect Brown Rice
Total Time
32 minutes (plus 10 minutes for steaming)
Prep Time
2 minutes
Cook Time
30 minutes
Rating
4.6 out of 5 stars
(259)
Ingredients
3 cups
- 1 cup brown rice (short, medium or long grain brown rice will work, as long as it’s not a quick-cooking variety)
- 6 cups water
- Salt, soy sauce or other desired seasonings, to taste
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Preparation
Step 1
Bring a large pot of water to boil, using at least 6 cups water per 1 cup rice. Rinse the rice in a fine mesh colander under running water to remove excess starch.
Step 2
Add the rice to the boiling water. Reduce the temperature as necessary to prevent overflow, but maintain a steady boil. Boil, uncovered, for 30 minutes.
Step 3
Drain off the remaining cooking water and return the rice to the pot. Cover the pot and let the rice rest, off the heat, for 10 minutes. Fluff, season as desired, and serve.
Step 4
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Chef's notes
Recipe adapted from Saveur.
Note on rinsing:
I’ve forgotten to rinse my rice before, and the rice turned out almost as good. The cooked grains are a little more starchy—you can see a thin layer of gluey starch at the bottom of the pot after steaming. If you’re in a hurry, skip the rinse.
Make it gluten free:
Rice is gluten free, so just be mindful of your additions. Soy sauce, for example, is not gluten free (substitute certified gluten-free tamari instead).
Wild rice option:
For wild rice, use 8 cups water and boil for 40 to 55 minutes, until tender but pleasantly chewy.
